Handle and pouring spout with attaching means



y 25, 1965 A. H. MARLER 3,185,358

HANDLE AND POURING SPOUT WITH ATTACHING MEANS Filed June 3, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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May 25, 1965 A. H. MARLER HANDLE AND POURING SPOUTHWITH ATTACHING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1963 J; W m v 4 1 J y 25, 1955 A. H. MARLER 3,185,358

7 HANDLE AND POURING SPOUT WITH ATTACHING MEANS Filed June 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. flrrra/Z /%rrZe/.

United States Patent 3,185,358 HANDLE AND POURWG SFQUT WITH ATTACHHJG BEANS Arnold H. I /iarler, 8 WendellAve., Weston, Ontario, Canada Filed June 3, 1963, Ser. No. 284,941 9 Claims. (Cl. 222-475) This invention relates to a combined handle and pouring spout for containers and, more particularly, to a device of this type having an improved means for readily attaching the device to a container and for detaching the same therefrom.

The device of this invention is adapted for use with containers of the type having an annular bead or rib adjacent one end thereof and it is an objectof this invention to provide means for eiiecting a locking engagement between the combined handle and pouring spout and the container of sufiicient integrity to hold the device onto the container during the pouring and handling operations.

The device of this invention is adapted for use with metal cans, cylindrical containers of cardboard and the like, and milk bottles and similar rigid receptacles. When the device is used in connection with imperforate containers such as metal cans, cardboard containers and the like, the device is provided with means for piercing or perforating the container to form two spaced openings therein, one of which is adapted to admit air into the container to dissipate any vacuum therein and the other of which is connected to the pouring spout and through which the contents of the container are adapted to be dispensed.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described having simple but eifective means for engaging the device with the bead or rib on the container. To this end, the device comprises a plurailty of resilient lobes, tongues, or cars adapted to be urged into locking engagement with the head or rib by a threaded, mounted axially movable locking ring having a cam surface or surfaces adapted upon movement of the locking ring to force said lobes, tongues, or ears into locking engagement with said bead or rib. Upon rotation of the locking ring in the opposite direction, the tongues or the like are released and disengage the bead or rib whereby the device may be readily removed from the container.

The various objects and advantages and the novel details of construction of several commercially practical embodiments of the invention, will become more apparent as this descripiton proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View showing the device of this invention attached to a container;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 2-2 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 with the piercing member poised in position to pierce the container;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 4-4 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the locking means at the area enclosed by the circle 5 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the locking means in unlocked or released position;

FIGURE 7 is a detail sectional elevational view taken substantially on line 7-7 in FIGURE 6;

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FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 8-8 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a detailed section on line 9-9 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 10 is a detail view taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view showing a modified form of the device of this invention attached to a rigid container such as a milk bottle; and

FIGURE 12 is a. sectional elevational view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 10-10 in FIGURE 9.

The device of this invention is adapted for use with metal cans, cylindrical containers of cardboard, plastic, and the like, and milk bottles and similar rigid receptacles. When the device is used in connection with imperforate containers, such as metal cans cardboard containers, and the like, the device is provided with means for piercing or perforating the container to form two spaced openings therein, one to admit air into the container and the other of which is connected to the pouring spout.

This latter form of the invention is illustrated particularly in FIGURES 1 to 9, inclusive in which there is illustrated an imperforate container C having atop T, at the juncture of which a bead or rib B is formed. The device in this form of the invention comprises a body portion 10 which is hollow and consists of two vertically extending side walls 11. One end of the body portion 10 is provided with a handle 12 by which the device may be grasped to lift and manipulate the container C and to tilt the same to pouring position. The body, opposite the handle 12 is shaped to form a pouring spout 13 defined on one side by an inner wall 14 extending between the side walls 11.

When the device is secured to the container, the bottom ends 11a of the side walls 11 engage the top side of the top T of the container C as shown in FIGURE 4 to firmly hold the top T against deformation during the perforating of the container to form the pouring opening, yet to be described.

The pouring spout 13 is provided with a discharge opening 15 adapted to be closed by a slidable closure 16 having a dovetail or tongue and groove connection 17 with the side walls 11. A finger piece 18 on the slidable closure 16 provides convenient means for sliding the closure to open and closed positions.

Rotatably or pivotally mounted between the walls 11 of the housing 10 is a piercing member 20. This pierclng member is similar to and operates in substantially the same manner as the piercing member disclosed in applicants copending application Serial No. 271,256, filed April 8, 1963.

This piercing member is arcuate shaped, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, and is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 21 extending between the walls 11 of the housing. The round pivot pin 21 is provided with a pair of opposed flat portions 22 to facilitate the engagement therewith of a tubular or sleeve-like bearing portion 23 carried by the piercing member 20.

It should be understood that the construction of the device is such that it may be molded from plastic material or the like and in order to facilitate the engagement of the sleeve-like portion 23 with the pivot pin 21, the bearing portion is provided with a longitudinal- 1y extending slot 24 adapted to pass over the opposed fiat portions 22 when the piercing member is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to thus permit assembly of the parts by engaging the bearing portion 23 with the pivot pin 21. As soon as the piercing member 20 is rotated slightly out of its position illustrated inFIG- URE 3, the slot 24 will leave the fiat portions 22 so that the piercing member will not become accidentally disconnected. This construction provides a simple but expendient method of assembling the piercing member with the body of the device, as will be apparent.

The, piercing member 26 is provided with a handle portion or finger piece 25 at one end for manipulating the same and the flat top 26 is adapted to lie-flush with the'top of the body portion when the piercing member is in the position illustrated in FIGURE Z.

The inner end of the piercing member is provide with a piercing end 38 which is preferably triangular in cross section, as described in copending application Serial No. 271,256. The piercing end 3% may be integral with and formed as a part of the piercing member 20 or it maybe in the form of a separate stainless steel metal member 31 molded or otherwise secured thereto.

Whenthe piercing member is moved from its position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, it will pierce the carton at two spaced points to form apertures 32 and 33, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The inner edge of the piercing member, throughout at least part of its length, is provided with one or more longitudinally extending channels 34. The remaining portion 35 of the piercing member may be tubular in cross section and a transverse reinforcing wall 36 provided with apertures 37 is provided at the juncture of the channeled and tubular portions to provide communication between these portions of thepiercing member. is an air inlet aperture to permit air to flow into the carton through the tubular portion 35 and channels 34 when its contents are being emptied to dissipateany vacuum therein, and the aperture 33 is la pouring. aperture which cornmunicates with the nozzle 13. At the end of its piercing movement, thepiercing member20 enters the nozzle13.

Asfully explained inapplication Serial No. 271,256

1 and as suggested in FIGURE 10, the piercing member 20,

at its piercing end, is triangular in cross section and forms triangularrshaped flaps 32a. and 33a about the apertures ,32 and 33 which are adapted tosnugly engage the piercing memberlllto prevent any leakage from the carton around the piercing member 20; seeFIGURES 2 and ltl. Thus the piercing member not only pierces the carton to provide the openings 32 and 33, but acts to seal these openingsagainst theaccidental'discharge of the contents of the container.

The handle portion .or finger piece is curved as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 so as to lie flush with the handle 12 when the piercing member is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. In manipulating the device, the handle12 is grasped by the fingers of the operator and the thumb engages the. handle portion or finger piece 25 so -as to assist in holding the .piercing'member 2% in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. Additional means (not shown) such as a detent on the piercing member and a recess in the body may be provided for holding the finger piece 25 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

As-will be apparent from a comparison of FIGURES 2 and 3, the piercing member is movable from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. .During this movement of the piercing memher, the piercing end first pierces the container 0 to movement, it extendsthrough the pouring opening33 and into the spout 13, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The aperture 32.

As previously set forth,.an important object of the invention is to provide a device of this type having simple but efiective means for readily engaging. the device with the'bead or rib B on the container C. In carrying out this portion of the invention, an annular portion 49 of the .device is provided with a plurality of circumferentialiy arranged resilient lobes, tongues, or cars 41 adapted to be urged into locking engagement with the bead B. Any

number of these lobes, tongues, or cars 41 may be provided as found necessary or expedient. Each of the tongues 41 is preferably provided with a radially inwardly extending rounded end portion or enlargement 41a; see particularly FIGURES 5 and 6. For forcing the tongues 41 into locking engagement with the bead B there is provided a threadedly mounted and axially movable locking ring 42 provided with threads 43 adapted to engage mating threads 44 on the annular portion of the device. The lower extendedportion of the locking ring 42 is provided with an axially extending cam surface 45 which, during the rotative and axialmovement of the locking ring 42 in an upward direction, is adaptedto engage the tongues or cars Y41 and to move or displace the same radially inwardly beneath the bead B. This securely locks the device to the container C, as will be apparent. When it is desired to release the device from-the container C, the locking ring 42 is'rotated in the opposite direction to release the cam surface 45 from the tongues 41 whereby,

ecause of their inherent resiliency, they will spring radially outwardly sufiiciently to permit the device to be. removed from the container.

It will be noted that the end portion or enlargement 41a of each of the tongues 41 is rounded to facilitate passing over the bead B when the device is applied to the container. It should also be noted that while one continuous annular cam surface 45 is illustrated, the locking ring 42 may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced cam surfaces corresponding in number to the tongues or cars 41.

Withthe construction thus far described, the combined handle. and pouringspout device may be positioned on the container C in. the manner shown probably best in FIGURE'6, whereupon rotation of the locking ring 42 will bring the cam surface 45' into engagement with the rounded ends 41a of the tongues or ears to thus force these tongues or ears il into locking engagementbeneath the bead B on the container C, as shownin-FIGURE 5. When it is desired ,to remove the device from the container C, thelocking ring 42 is rotated and thus displaced axially from the position illustrated inFIGURE 5 to that illustrated, in FIGURE 6. This releases the tongues or cars 41 from the bead B, so that the device, may be removed from the container.

In'FIGURES 11 and 12, a modified form-of the device suitable for use with milk bottles or other similar rigid receptaclesis illustrated. In this form of construction, there is shown, for illustrative purposes, a milk bottle'50 having an annular rib 51 adjacent the upper end of its neck. The device of this invention comprises a body 52 having a pouring spout 53 adapted to be closed by a slidable closure 54 operable by a finger piece 55 adapted to engage in anyone of a plurality of recesses 56 to hold the slidable closure in its adjusted position. The device i also consists of a handle 57 and an annular portion 58.

The annular portion 58 is provided with a plurality of lobes, tongues, or ears 59 which are inherently flexible as in the previously described construction. These tongues are adapted to be urged into locking engagement with the annular rib 51 of the milk bottle 56. In this form of construction, the locking ring 60 is provided with a separate. annular cam member 61 adapted, duringthe upward movement of the locking ring,.to engagethe tongues59 toforce the same into locking engagement withthe head 51. The annular portion 58 is provided with an annular flange 62 having a threaded engagementwith the locking ring 60. Thus, when the locking ring60 is rotated in a direction to move upwardly, as viewedinFIGURE 12, the cam member 61 will be brought into engagement with the lobes, tongues or ears 59 to'force the same into locking engagement with the head 51. This securely locks the device 52 to the milk bottle or other similar container so that it may be readily handled and manipulated to tilt the same to pouring position. The device may be released from the milkbottle or the like by. rotating the locking ring 60 in the opposite direction, whereupon the tongues 59 are released and the device may be removed from the container.

Obviously, the separate cam member 61 may be omitted and the cam surface or surfaces may be provided on an extension of the locking ring 60, as in the previously described construction.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided a combined handle and pouring spout device which may be readily attached to and removed from containers such as metal cans, cylindrical containers of cardboard and the like and milk bottles and similar rigid receptacles. If the device is used in connection with imperforate containers, means is provided for perforating the container to form spaced openings therein, one an air opening, and the other of which is connected to the pouring spout. The locking ring and the resilient lobes, tongues, or ears provide a simple but eifective means for quickly attaching the device to the container and for removing the same therefrom. The structure is so reduced in the number and character of its component parts as to approach the ultimate in structural simplicity, whereby it may be conveniently made of any suitable plastic by molding.

While two commercially practical embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein somewhat in detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described for a container having an annular bead comprising, a body having a pouring spout and a handle portion, a plurality of resilient locking tongues on said body adapted to be moved into locking engagement with said head, and a locking ring threadedly mounted on said body for rotatable and axial movement thereon toward said locking tongues and having cam means adapted to engage said locking tongues to move the same into locking engagement with said bead.

2. A device of the class described for a container having an annular bead comprising, a body having a pouring spout and a handle portion, a plurality of resilient locking tongues on said body provided with rounded ends adapted to be moved into locking engagement with said bead, a locking ring threaded onto said body for axial movement thereon toward said locking tongues, and axially extending cam means on said locking ring engaging said locking tongues for moving said locking tongues into locking engagement with said head.

3. A device of the class described for a container having an annular bead comprising, a body having a pouring spout and a handle portion, a plurality of resilient locking tongues on said body adapted to be moved into locking engagement with said bead, a locking ring threaded onto said body for axial movement thereon toward said locking tongues, and an axially extending cam surface on said locking ring whereby upon axial movement of said locking ring said cam surface engages said locking tongues to force the same into locking engagement with said head.

4. A device as described in claim 2 in which said cam means is on the inner surface of said locking ring.

5. A device as described in claim 2 in which said locking ring is provided with a radially inwardly spaced annular ring, said annular ring being shaped to provide said cam means.

6. A device of the character described for use with an imperforate container having an annular bead, rib or the like, said device comprising, a body portion, a pouring spout and a handle on said body portion, a piercing member mounted on said body portion and operable to form an aperture in said container in communication with said pouring spout, resilient locking tongues on said body portion, and a locking ring rotatably mounted on said body portion for movement toward said locking tongues and having cam means adapted to engage said locking tongues to force the same into locking engagement with said bead, rib or the like.

7. A device of the character described for use with an imperforate container having an annular bead, rib or the like, said device comprising, a body portion, a pouring spout and a handle on said body portion, a piercing member mounted on said bodyportion and operable to form spaced apertures in said container, one of which is in communication with said pouring spout, resilient locking tongues on said body portion adapted to be moved into locking engagement with said bead, rib or the like, a locking ring rotatably and axially movable on said body portion toward said locking tongues, and an axially extending cam surface on said locking ring whereby upon axial movement of said locking ring said cam surface engages said locking tongues to force the same into locking engagement with said bead, rib orthe like.

8. A device of the class described for use with an imperforate container having a beaded portion adjacent one end, said device comprising, a body portion, a pouring spout on one end of said body portion, a handle on the other end of said body portion, an arcuate-shaped piercing member pivotally mounted on said body portion and having a piercing end, said piercing member being movable from a position substantially perpendicular to said body portion to cause its piercing end to form spaced apertures in said container with one of said apertures in communication with said pouring spout, a plurality of resilient locking tongues on said body portion, and a locking ring threaded onto said body portion for axial movement thereon toward said locking tongues, said locking .ring having cam means adapted to engage said locking tongues to move the same into locking engagement with said beaded portion.

9. A device of the class described for use with a container having a bead adjacent one end comprising, a body, a plurality of resilient locking tongues on said body adapted to be moved into locking engagement with said bead, the end of each of said tongues being provided with a rounded enlargement to facilitate the passage of said tongues over said bead, a locking ring threaded onto said body for axial movement thereon toward and away from said locking tongues, and an axially extending cam surface on said locking ring whereby upon axial movement of said locking ring toward said locking tongues said cam surface engage the ends of said tongues to force said enlargements into locking engagement with said head.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 116,43 3 6/71 Glover. 1,027,421 5/ 12 Iungclas 222-570 X 2,131,631 9/38 Lackstrom 222--570 X 2,748,976 6/ 56 Magnesen 220-60 3,052,375 9/62 Kyser 222- X LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED FOR A CONTAINER HAVING AN ANNULAR BEAD COMPRISING, A BODY HAVING A POURING SPOUT AND A HANDLE PORTION, A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT LOCKING TONGUES ON SAID BODY ADAPTED TO BE MOVED INTO LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BEAD, AND A LOCKING RING THREADEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY FOR ROTATABLE AND AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREON TOWARD SAID LOCKING TONGUES AND HAVING CAM MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID LOCKING TONGUES TO MOVE THE SAME INTO LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BEAD. 